Mathematicians hunting prime numbers discover infinite new pattern

Post by bmacho » Sat, Jun 21, 2025, 1:06 PM UTC

dcow wrote: post #31

wewewedxfgdf wrote: post #2

This sort of thing makes me feel there is some deep understanding of reality only inches away from us, we glimpse it through these patterns but the secret remains hidden.

I don’t think this understanding will be related to the structure of reality but instead the structure of discrete math. Math is not an observed property of reality it’s a system of describing quantities and relations between them, often with plenty of practical application. Math is applied philosophy and physics is applied math.

Post by swayvil » Sat, Jun 21, 2025, 1:17 PM UTC

dcow wrote: post #31

wewewedxfgdf wrote: post #2

This sort of thing makes me feel there is some deep understanding of reality only inches away from us, we glimpse it through these patterns but the secret remains hidden.

I don’t think this understanding will be related to the structure of reality but instead the structure of discrete math. Math is not an observed property of reality it’s a system of describing quantities and relations between them, often with plenty of practical application. Math is applied philosophy and physics is applied math.

Post by curtisblaine » Sat, Jun 21, 2025, 1:22 PM UTC

swayvil wrote: post #35

bmacho wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Discrete math is the single most "observed property of reality", and nothing else comes even close.

I for one never saw a "number 2" in the wild. But I'm a homebody.

Post by m3kw9 » Sat, Jun 21, 2025, 1:41 PM UTC

dcow wrote: post #31

wewewedxfgdf wrote: post #2

This sort of thing makes me feel there is some deep understanding of reality only inches away from us, we glimpse it through these patterns but the secret remains hidden.

I don’t think this understanding will be related to the structure of reality but instead the structure of discrete math. Math is not an observed property of reality it’s a system of describing quantities and relations between them, often with plenty of practical application. Math is applied philosophy and physics is applied math.

Post by brookst » Sat, Jun 21, 2025, 1:58 PM UTC

alphazard wrote: post #37

swayvil wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I for one never saw a "number 2" in the wild. But I'm a homebody.

If I handed you 1 apple, and then handed you another apple, you wouldn't be surprised to find that you had 2 apples. The same trick works with oranges and pears.